Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Wyer, Henry Otis 1802 - 1857
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Author: J. H. Campbell
HENRY OTIS WYER.
The subject of this sketch was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, 19th March,
1802. His early advantages were limited, but by industry and application, he
prepared himself to enter Waterville College, Maine, about his eighteenth year.
Few men were blessed with a better mother. She possessed high intellectual
culture, and was eminently pious. The cherished desire of her heart was to see
her eldest son a minister. God heard her prayers and answered her request. Soon
after his conversion and entrance upon college, his mother removed to
Alexandria, Virginia, where she remained until her death. On her return there he
left Waterville, and entered Columbian College, District of Columbia, where he
continued his studies for two or three years. His ministry commenced soon after
his conversion. When but a mere boy, he entered upon the great work of preaching
Christ to sinners, and continued to love and labor for souls as long as he lived.
After leaving college he returned North, where he spent a few months in
preaching to destitute churches. About the year 1824, he received an appointment
to labor as a city missionary in Savannah, Georgia. The Baptist church at that
time was without a pastor, the members few and feeble, the cause languishing and
almost dead. That eminently good and pious man, Josiah Penfield, then the most
useful and influential member in the church, soon heard of him, and of his
mission to the city. Attracted by his piety, his zeal, his talents, the church
soon called him to become their pastor. Though young and inexperienced, he
entered with zeal and energy upon this important field of labor. He was ordained
pastor of the church during that year, by the late Rev. W. T. Brantly, who was
then pastor of the church in Augusta, and the Rev. James Shannon, then of
Liberty county. About two years after his ordination he was married to Miss Mary
S. Hartstene, of Savannah, who, from her youth, was admired for her grace of
manners, intelligence of mind, excellent discretion, and cheerful piety. She
survived her husband nine years. On the 21st March, 1866, she passed from earth
to join him in the rest above. Two children only were the fruit of their
marriage, the younger son— a physician of great promise and usefulness—sleeps
beside his parents; the elder still survives, and is a minister of the gospel in
Virginia. He remained pastor of the church about ten years, when his health
failed through the excessive labors consequent upon a succession of revivals
with which his ministry was attended. During these years he toiled incessantly,
his time, talents and energies were taxed to their utmost. Whatever he attempted
he did with all his might. Besides the three regular services of the
Sabbath—which was the custom at that time—he often had two, and frequently
three, during the week. Hundreds were converted under his ministry, the church
was revived and built up, and the Baptist cause greatly advanced. Nor during
that period were his labors confined to his own church and people, but the
adjacent churches in Georgia and South Carolina were often visited by him, and
were, through his instrumentality, blessed with gracious seasons of
refreshing-Several precious revivals occurred at Beaufort, South Carolina,
tinder his ministry. Among the number baptized there was Rev. Dr. R. Fuller,
between whom and himself there continued to exist a strong and devoted
attachment during his whole life. In Georgia such men as Lathrop, DeVotie, D. G.
Daniell, and many others who are now among the most prominent and useful
ministers in the denomination, were converted through his instrumentality and
baptized by him. He loved above everything else to be in a revival. Those who
have been with him on such occasions, can appreciate his special adaptedness for
such work. His last letter ever written to his son, expresses his feelings on
this subject. We extract the following sentences: "The happiest period of my
life was when hard at work in the ministry. It is a great and good work, and
must tell upon the destinies of eternity. Take heed unto thyself, I. Timothy,
iv. 16. A personal influence is all-important. Seek to move the conscience, the
affections, the moral man, in preaching, in conversation, in prayers, in
everthing."
When the Rev. J. G. Binney resigned the church to go to Burmah, he was
re-elected pastor, but he consented to take the church only for the year, that
he might relieve the building from the encumbrance of a heavy debt. His object
accomplished he retired; but on the division of the church a year or two
afterwards, when the second Baptist church was constituted, he became its
pastor. His health did not permit him to labor long in this capacity. He was
succeeded after two years, by Rev. J. P. Tustin, but never afterwards assumed
the regular pastoral care of a church, though he frequently supplied destitute
churches in various portions of the country, and endeavored to preach every
Sabbath when his health would permit it.
As a preacher, he had few equals. The pulpit was the throne of his strength. He
was emphatically a christian preacher, and in his eye all truth arranged itself
around the cross of Christ. His characteristics were clearness, unction and
force. He never prostituted the pulpit to purposes of mere rhetorical display
and intellectual entertainment. Convinced himself, he sought to convince others.
Belying on God, he believed that the truth was capable of being so exhibited as
to commend itself to every man's conscience. Studying that truth himself, and
feeling its adaptation to his own intellect and heart, his presentations of
truth was such as to impress the minds of his hearers with the belief that his
heart was deeply imbued with its Spirit. He felt that no man could preach who
did not himself perceive the glory of Christ, and know experimentally the
preciousness of Christ. There was in his preaching an unction, a pathos and an
eloquence that we have rarely seen equalled in any other speaker. His fine
person, flashing eye and sonorous voice, combined with a comprehensive mind, a
cultivated intellect and a sanctified heart, peculiarly fitted him for an
effective preacher. His sermons were generally well prepared, but he rarely ever
wrote them in full. He usually preached from notes, his thoughts came rapidly,
his language was chaste, yet forcible, his imagination fervid, and he possessed
a fluency that made him ready for any occasion. Many have regretted that some of
his most effective sermons had not been written out But after all, the written
sermons of a minister are a poor exponent of his influence. However elaborate
their construction and finished their style, they are but the residuum of a
sparkling cup. Those who read what they once heard invariably confess to a
feeling of disappointment, and can with difficulty be persuaded that the
sentences over which their eye passes so languidly on the printed page are the
very same which, upon the delivery from the pulpit, fresh from the heart and
lips of their authors, were as a chariot of fire to the devout auditor. "In
fact, every attempt to present on paper the splendid effects of impassioned
eloquence, is like gathering dew drops, which appear jewels and pearls on the
grass, but run to water in the hand, the essence and the elements remain, but
the grace, the sparkle and the form are gone."
The following was written by Dr. W. T. Brantly a short time after his death:
"As a pulpit orator, our departed brother, when in health, had very few
superiors in this country. He had a fine presence, .and when his sonorous voice
and piercing eye were animated by a soul filled with love to Christ, and
yearning for the conversion of sinners, he spoke with the most thrilling effect.
Who that heard him preach for upwards of two hours at the Georgia Baptist
Convention, in Madison, about fourteen years ago, will ever forget that sermon?
Who grew weary under that protracted discourse? During the remarkable revival
which took place in Charleston, in 1846, he and Rev. Richard Fuller frequently
spoke on the same occasion. After Dr. Fuller had preached for more than an hour
and wrought the audience to a degree of feeling which was intense, I have seen
brother Wyer rise and with appeals almost electric, swell the feeling into
deeper emotion and retain the multitude in profound attention to a late hour of
the night. A beautiful feature in our beloved brother's character was his
humility. He never seemed to be conscious of his great power, and shrank from
anything like notoriety. He was willing to work in the most obscure positions,
and always rejoiced when his ministering brethren were assigned places of
distinction. His genial disposition made him a universal favorite in society,
whilst his intelligent conversation and refined manners gave him access to the
best circles in our country."
An incident was related to the writer a few years ago by Dr. W. F. Broaddus,
of Virginia, illustrative of his great power in exhortation: Dr. Broaddus and
himself were conducting a protracted meeting many years ago at Culpepper
Court-house. There was then no Baptist church in the place, and the services
were held in the court-house. The meetings became deeply solemn, and many were
inquiring what they must do to be saved? In the village was a gentleman of
standing and influence who was a professed infidel. His wife was a truly pious
woman and a Baptist. She tried to persuade her husband to attend the meeting,
but he continued to refuse. One night he was led by the spirit of God to the
meeting. He did not venture in, but stood at the door. The speaker was
delivering one of his most effective exhortations. The man was attracted by his
voice, his manner, his soul-stirring appeals. He entered the room. As the
speaker proceeded in his exhortation he advanced up the aisle nearer and still
nearer, until at last he fell down, amid tears and sobs, and cried to God for
mercy.
The following touching and truthful tribute to his memory was written by Rev.
Dr. Fuller, of Baltimore: "The papers have lately announced the departure of
this minister of Christ, and the news will afflict many churches and many hearts
in our country. It was not long after he came to the South, when the writer of
this notice entered a church almost casually. In the pulpit was a man, still
young, with a very striking appearance, with a musical, sonorous voice, and
whose gesture was graceful and commanding. These accomplishments were, however,
soon forgotten, and the attention of the entire audience riveted by the
earnestness and pathos with which the speaker enforced the simple but sublime
truths of the gospel. Although utterly careless, I could but be impressed as he
urged "the one thing needful" for man's peace and happiness and salvation. "Who
is this?" "The Rev. Mr. Wyer, pastor of Savannah Baptist church." I lost sight
of him for some years, but we were destined to meet again, and often to share
the toils and cares and successes and sorrows of the ministry. I remember, as it
were yesterday, the calm sweet morning when he led me down into the water and
baptized me into that name so precious to us both. Scene after scene rises to my
memory when we knelt together, and from one closet went forth to preach Jesus to
the great congregation, and to triumph together in seeing the salvation of the
gospel breaking forth on the right hand and on the left. For him, all this has
ceased. Indeed, for many years his impaired health compelled him to relinquish
the occupation so dear to his heart. He had to resign his pastorship, and, with
Rutherford, to "mourn over his dumb Sabbaths." He has finished his course. What
anxieties, what cares, what griefs, what joys, what fears, what labors, what
tears and groans, what hopes and disappointments, are crowded into the life of a
faithful minister of the gospel! He knew all these, but now he knows them no
more. He has passed from them to the peace and purity and rapture—the wreaths
and the robes of the victor—to the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to them who fight the good fight of faith and are
faithful unto death."
As I have already said, Mr. Wyer was endowed with rare personal advantages for
the work of the ministry. His fluency was uncommon; indeed, it was to him (as it
is too often to those who possess the faculty,) a snare. And yet, what a gift
when he had prepared himself by study! In what burning accents—with what a flood
of eloquence could he pour out all his thoughts! His mind was strong, vigorous,
comprehensive; his imagination lively and fertile. But the secret of his pulpit
power was in his heart. There the truest, warmest, most tender and noblest
elements found their congenial abode. Napoleon said that he "governed men by
fear, and that men could be governed only by fear." How different is the wisdom
of the gospel, and how much, truer its philosophy, which teaches us that love
is, and must be, (the power is, indeed, the wisdom and power of God,) where such
a being as man is to be controlled. In the character of our deceased brother,
love was the all-pervading, all-constraining element. In all his official
life—as a preacher and pastor—in the desk, in the parlor, in the sick chamber,
he was all tenderness and gentleness and affection— “the love of Christ
constraining him."
"In social intercourse he was the same sincere, disinterested, benevolent man.
Ever scrupulously just in his dealings, ever courteous in his manners, and ever
faithful in his friendships, he has left a reputation unsullied by a single
stain, a name which no human being can mention with unkindness, and a memory
enshrined in the hearts of thousands who loved him. It was especially in his
family that all the virtues and amiabilities of his character were unfolded. But
within those hallowed precints others must not intrude.
"The griefs and consolations of the house of mourning are sacred. Strangers,
not even friends, may mingle with them. To lose such a husband and father must
be an irreparable bereavement. But the hand which hath chastened can wipe away
all tears. And the prayers offered, night and day, by him whose form they will
see no more, whose voice they will hear no more, those prayers will now return
in consolations and blessings which can cause the soul, in its bitterest
affliction, to exchange 'beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the
garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness.' "
In April, 1857, he left Savannah in his usual health and joined his family,
then in Alexandria, Virginia. The Sabbath preceding the attack of pneumonia
which terminated his life, he repaired to the church for the blacks and preached
to them in the morning and afternoon. During the second service the house was
very warm, and the doors being opened near the pulpit, he stood in a current of
air, and thus in all probability contracted the disease which resulted in death
a few days afterwards. His last text was from John iii. 14 and 15. Preaching
Christ was his last public service on earth. When smitten by disease, he
manifested not the slightest anxiety to recover. The Saviour whom he had served
was his hope, and his spirit was serene. The day previous to his death he said
to one sitting by him, "I have run the race, I have fought the battle;
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown." And to his son, a short time before
he expired, in answer to the question, "Is it all well with you now ?" he said,
"Not a doubt—not a doubt— all clear." On the morning of May 8th, 1857, in the
fifty-fifth year of his age, he passed from earth to his reward in heaven. His
funeral was attended from the Baptist church on the following day. There, in
front of the pulpit, lay the calm remains of the faithful minister of Christ,
who had been, brought to the house of God for the last time, to address his
brethren and friends in speechless tenderness. A hymn was sung, prayer was
offered, some words of consolation uttered, and devout men bore him to his
burial. The early spring blossoms were opening and falling as he was laid in the
sacred spot selected in the Ivy Hill Cemetery, near Alexandria. Upon the marble
slab that marks his resting place is the simple inscription: "And now my witness
is in heaven and my record is on high."
Additional Comments:
From:
GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.
MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
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